Shock absorber



March 16-, 1926. 1,577,041

J.F.LUETH SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Fab. 16. 1925 2 sheets sheet 1 March 16,1926. 1,577,041

J. F. LUETH SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Feb. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 62 v MOW Passed Mar. 16; 1926.

u-Nso JO N I. LUETH, or. aoxennvywisconsm.

v "'sHooK A'BSGRBEB.

Application filed February 16 1'925f Seriar No. @497.

T 011 whomit"ma z concern." 1

i 'Be'it" known' that I," J oHN Fu' LUETH, a citizen of the. United-States, andresident of the town of"""RoXbury, inthe county of .Dane and State "ofdVi'sconsin', have invented certain new and usefulTn'iprovements in Shock Absorbers sand I'do hereby declare it that the following is a'full, clean-and exact description thereof.

This inventionrelates to shock absorbers.

Objectsof this invention are to provide a shock absorber for automobiles and similar "vehicles, which is 'soconstru'cted that it will permit free movement of the'axle away from win.

its normal positioneither upwardly or "downwardly, but will resist the ll'llOtlOll of "the axle baclr'to its normal position no 'Iii'attenfromwhich side the axle'isreturnresistance for an increased length of travel in proportion to the amount'of 'deflectron of the axleyso um the total amount of" energy absorbed *by' the shock absorber -1s fprop0r- 'tion'ate' to the displacement of the axle from in the accompanying drawings, in which the device is shown as schematically applied to an automobile axle. D

Figure 1 1s a fragmentary v ew of a portion of an automobile frame, spring and axle showing the device in normal position.

" Figure 2 shows the position assumed by the parts when the axle is displaced upwardly with referenceto the frame.

Figure 3 is a corresponding vlew showlng the position of the parts when the axle is displaced downwardly with reference to the frame.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the frictional device or snubber, such snubber being of the conventional form.

Figure 5 is a front view of the snubber showing a portion of the side frame bar of the automobile in section.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that an automobile frame 1 has been illustrated, as provided with a spring 2 attached to an axle 3. This axle is provided with A further obj'ect of 't-heinvention is: to gprovide a: shock absorber "which will offer -lugs a: beneath each side frame. 'Eiich'of theselugsis connected 'by' means of ashort' -linkwith the lower-end of a lever 6 pivotally mounted, tlSll'lCllCZltGtl" at 7, upon a bracket secured-to the under side of the fran'ie. 'lhe lever-f 6 isia'lso providedwvith an integral an'gula'rly oil'set' arm 8' prefer ably slioitertli'airtlie arm 6. Any of the usual types of. snubber wheels or friction devices, indicated generally "at 9, "may be employed. These" devices,- as'is well I known, fi-LItmTmtiCa'lly' EIIlCl freely windin a strap or flexible member 10,'but offer frictional resistance to its withdrawal. iTlie operation of the apparatus is as follows :J-kssuming the p'arts'are' in the position fshown in Figure 1 which corresponds'f to their normal position; 1f the axle =1s now deflected upwardly with reference to'the side frame, the lever 6 is rocked in a cl'ockwise tllI'QCtlOlT making ananglew th its original center line, such as indicated "at 11 in Figure 2. Thestrap 10 isreeled into the friction-"device" 9*in a'free manner. How- "eveiy 'w hen the axle moves downwardly it forces t'he lever 6 in a counter-clockwise direction back to its normal center line 11. This motion is transmitted to the strap 10 by means of the short arm 8 and retraction of this strap is resisted in a frictional manner by means of the friction device 9. Thus the return motion of the axle is frictionally resisted.

downwardly with reference to the side frame, as shown in Figure 3, the lever 6 is again rocked in a clockwise direction and the strap 10 is freely reeled into the friction device 9. However, when the axle moves upwardly towards its normal position, it

If, on the other hand, the axle is displaced rocks the lever 6 in a counter-clockwise direction back to its initial center line 11, thus withdrawing the strap 10 from the fIlGtiOll device. This rocking motion of the lever is resisted by the friction device, as previously described.

It is to be noted from this description that the strap is reeled into the friction de-- lrates the onuhher, it will he seen that such snuhher eonsists of an (inter easing Within which a friction drum 12 is rigidly positioned. This friction drum is loosely sun roiuuled by a curved arm 13 provided with brake shoes or friction pads H. In turn the arm l3 is surrouiuled by the strap 10 whose end is secured to such arin. Further an annular member 153 surrounds a spiral spring l(' whose inner end is lined, as shown and whose outer end is attaehod to the annular ineniher .15. This annular ineniher has a projeeting tongue 17 which engages the arm 13 and pulls against the strap '10. However, when the strupis allowed to more in- 'i'vardl}; under the influenee oi the sprinfgg, it is roiled ahout the member 1113 and 'forees the :l'riction pads l linto engagement with the stalioinie drum 5 \Vhen the strap is pulled (uitwardl ri its outward n'iotion is resisted he the friction between the pads and the stutionaey drum.

flt will he seem therefore. (hat dangerous honoring o the ear is avoided as each rehound. whether upwardly or downu'ardly is cheehei'l. llurther. it is in he noted that lhototul amount oi? energy expended in the il'riel'iou device pi'o 'iortional to the disinure of displacement of the axle and, there fore, for a great displz'iceinent, a relatively great energy ahsorption takes plaee, and thus mitoniatieally provides for a greater resistance or ahsorption "for 21 greater dis placement than to a smaller displacement.

It is to he distinctly understood that the disclosure is merely illustrative of the invention, and that the drawin s are schematic of the device showing one mode of applii'intion to a conventional type of automobile.

It will thus be seen that a very ell'ective shoclc absorber has been provided which is of simple construction and has relatively few parts.

Further, it will he seen that the shock ahsorher highly ell'icient in operation and will prevent honnoing of; the car irrespective of the direction ol. deflection of the axle with relerenmz to the side 'FIZUUC.

Although the invention has been deserihed in ermsiderahle detail, it is to he understood that the invention may he varioust; enihodied and is, therehn'e, to be limited. only as claimed.

l: claim:

in an automobile, the, combination of a side liiune, an axle, a spring connecting said axle and side 'l'riune, a lever pivotally earried hr said side frame and having a downwardly (extending long arm and outwardly extending short arm, n link connect-- in g; said axle and the loiip; arm of said level, and a friction device carried by the side :l'ranieani'l connected with the short arm oi. said lever, said friction device resisting 1notion of the short arm in one direction only.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setmy hand at Lodi, in the county of Columbia and State of Wisconsin.

JOHN F. LUETH. 

